Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, September/October 2008, pages 5-6

Letters to the Editor

A Library Find

I JUST discovered the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs today [July 21] when I bought three back issues at my local library.

It is very refreshing to read a magazine that speaks the truth, instead of RNC talking points and bullet points spewed by paid RNC hacks and lackies.

It is particularly refreshing to read the truth about Israel and the illegal occupation of Palestine.

Even though I am on a small, limited income until I get my full disability, I am going to make it a point to subscribe to your fine publication.

Michael K. Hill, Saint Ann, MO

We are honored to have you as a new subscriber. Since we are nonpartisan, however, and tend to call a spade a spade, we hope you’re prepared to hear criticism of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) as well as its Republican counterpart.

Who’s Modeling Whom?

Many thanks for Chris Hedges’ “A Declaration of U.S. Independence from Israel” (August 2008 Washington Report). It was well written, factual, and by the U.S. citizen who has probably covered more wars in Latin America and the Middle East than any other.

Were I to add to his already thorough coverage of the issue, I would expand his comments on Mearsheimer and Walt and their emphasizing that the old USA/Israeli politics is inimical to both the U.S. and Israel. Is it possible that the many new Jewish peace groups in the USA and in Israel will trump AIPAC? If so, how long will it take? Allan Brownfeld’s article speaks to this in this same issue.

Sadly, I keep asking what Israel has done that has not already been “modeled” by the U.S. on an even larger scale—pre-emptive war, targeted assassination, cluster bombs, occupation, torture—well, at least Israel has outlawed torture for its uselessness. Will the U.S. and Israel continue to mirror each other? Have we not become the failed states as far as the Middle East is concerned?

Please keep articles by Chris Hedges coming.

Henry H. Bucher, Jr., Adjunct Associate Professor Emeritus/Humanities, Comparative World History/Africa & Middle East, Austin College, Sherman, TX

See the “activism” about Chris Hedges and Laila Al-Arian on p. 63.Their book Colateral Damage is available from the AET Book Club (see p. 68). While we’re more inclined to believe that the U.S. is imitating Israel, rather than the other way around, we’re sure you’d agree with the Jesuit Fr. John Sheehan, who said, “Every time anyone says that Israel is our only friend in the Middle East, I can’t help but think that before Israel, we had no enemies in the Middle East.”

Breach of Contract—at Best

Were the neocons disloyal to the U.S. when, following an Israeli plan for the Middle East, they led us into attacking Iraq? Of course they were, but a country has no inherent right to its citizens’ loyalty. Whether Wolfowitz, Feith, Perle et al. preferred Israel to the U.S. was their own business—unless, as they did, they had jobs with the U.S. government. Then, as a matter of contract, they were dishonest in not serving the interests of the U.S.

Charles W. McCutchen, Bethesda, MD

Some of those you name also took oaths swearing to uphold the Constitution of the United States (we know they couldn’t have confused it with Israel, since the state for Jews has no constitution). See p. 14 for an article by publisher Andrew I. Killgore on Israeli spying on its number-one benefactor, and a compilation by managing editor Janet McMahon of a nattering nabob of neocons and other friends of Israel.

Taking Pity on One’s Senators

I was sickened at Mohammed Omer’s treatment by the Shin Bet. Simultaneously I had just received an e-mail from Sen. Dianne Feinstein stating how pleased she was with Annapolis and that Israel is dealing with the moderates.

I took pity on her lack of information about what is going on in the world. So I wrote her about Mohammed’s ordeal. I also decided that, since she is so out of touch with events taking place in the Middle East, I should send her from time to time pieces of information, the last from Jewish Peace News, so that she and her staff can be informed. I will save all these pieces. Should I ever meet with her (probably her staff), I will have the record with me. I am starting to do this with Sen. Barbara Boxer, too.

Betsy Wolf-Graves, via e-mail

Mohammed Omer’s account of his ordeal appears on p. 10 of this issue. Your educational efforts on behalf of your two California senators seem to be bearing fruit, as Senator Feinstein has earned a spot in our 110th Congress’ “Hall of Fame” (see p. 20).

By Israel vs. in Israel

It occurs to me that in addition to the petition protesting Omer’s treament, the Washington Report might consider submitting the information, especially on the journalists killed by Israel, to the NEWSEUM, the museum dedicated to matters of First Amendment freedoms. I submitted a question to the administrator asking why in their Honor Roll of Journalists none of those killed by Israel was included on the Wall.

I didn’t even get an acknowledgement that I had communicated with them, let alone an answer. Perhaps you can get a better result.

Patricia Abraham, via e-mail

News editor Delinda C. Hanley followed up on your e-mail and discovered that the Palestinian and foreign journalists killed, primarily in Gaza, by Israel are listed by the Newseum as having been killed in Israel. See her report on p. 60 of this issue.

All the News That’s Fit to Bury

Deep within the July 17, 2008 New York Times article, “Prisoners’ Homecoming a Triumph for Hezbollah,” dwelt the following passage, in the 14th paragraph, “…in remarks broadcast to the audience, he [Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah] said that he would be willing to accept a diplomatic solution to the remaining land disputes…”

Since the article also stated that Hezbollah and its allies have achieved veto power in the current government of Lebanon, the words about acceptance of a diplomatic solution, with their obvious implicit import, would have been better placed much, much closer to the by-line.

Hopefully the staffs of Messrs. Bush and Olmert read through to the 14th paragraph and will encourage their bosses to act upon the sheikh’s offer.

David-Israel Sandler, Seattle, WA

Perhaps that’s why the current American president doesn’t read newspapers.

Faithful—and Fruitful—Years

I salute you for your many faithful years of work trying to bring justice to the Palestinian people.

But it is so disappointing to watch your tireless efforts being ignored and marginalized year after year by the mainstream media. Your magazine is excellent and I am certainly not being critical of it in any way. But more Jewish houses and settlements are being built every day, more Palestinians are being killed and wounded every day, more Palestinian land is being gobbled up, more olive orchards are being bulldozed by huge bulldozers built in America and subsidized (or directly paid for) by Americans. U.S. government perfidy becomes more egregious and blatant every day, and more shame and disgrace are brought upon this truly wonderful and blessed country.

Somehow we must all of us who desire justice hammer out a new way of doing things, a new way of approaching the enormous problems that face us. If one is honest, one must admit that the majority of the mainstream media, both electronic and print, have an overwhelming bias in favor of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and a belief, or at least a tolerance for the belief, that the Jews have divine title to all the land of Palestine, a gift from God himself to the Jews and their descendents.

What are we few to do faced with an overwhelmingly powerful news media that is little more than a propaganda outlet for Israel? Poor Bush may think that he is doing God’s work, but the powerful men in the shadows who manipulate him know better. And to complete a dark picture, Congress is completely cowed by the Jewish lobby and supports Israel in every crime.

Still, keep up the good work, and maybe one of your readers one day will come up with the brilliant plan we so desperately need. I am enclosing a check for renewal of my subscription and for a gift subscription, plus a donation to the AET.

William Fuller, Williamsport, PA

Since its founding 26 years ago, it has been the Washington Report’s premise that there must be a change in American public opinion in order for there to be an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine. We believe this change is occurring—witness the books by President Jimmy Carter and Professors Mearsheimer and Walt (both available from the AET Book Club, of course). In our very first issue (dated April 5, 1982), this magazine reported that “Washington’s pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), is laying the ground work for a potential fight with the Reagan administration over the possible sale of Hawk mobile missiles and F-16 fighter planes to Jordan.”

We have no doubt that, had we not been covering the Israel lobby for the past quarter-century, the discussion taking place today would still be in the future. By monitoring contributions by pro-Israel PACs (see August 2008 Washington Report, p. 27) and providing congressional voting records (see p. 20), we give our readers the information they need to communicate with their congressmen and cast informed votes. Alas, there is no magic bullet—we only wish there were! It takes dogged determination by informed and committed Americans who object to the price this country has paid, in reputation and treasury, for its blind support of Israel. We’re not about to give up—and we can tell by your final paragraph that you aren’t, either.

Something to Look Forward To

I suppose we can look forward to another 25 years of lying, false propaganda. Your hatred of God’s chosen people speaks volumes and is quite transparent to any thinking person.

Let’s see you print this in your “Letters to the Editor”!

Richard Rugen (no city or state)

It’s our belief that God loves all His people—even those who dismiss the 99.8 percent of the world’s population they consider “unchosen.”